After Cyclone Komen destroyed Nat-Ta-Gar Bridge, new bridges have been damaged every year and the villages are facing travel difficulties due to the strong flow of the mountain stream.

“Mr. Toney will find us a donor. The rural road department has built the foundation. Everything is ready for building the pillars. Since it’s going to take at least a month, we are going to hold a meeting within the interim period. Now, the rain has started falling so we are in trouble. It would be convenient if the bridge can be built within next month,” said Ko Pa Sui, administrator of Minhla Village.

Local residents have to build makeshift bridges to travel from one village to another since the bridge construction has not started yet.

“We need to build a temporary bridge where we can at least push a motorcycle [across the bridge]. It will take a month [to get the donation] from donors who will build the bridge so it (the temporary bridge) needs to be built for the public,” said Pa Sui.

Besides the villages along Nat-Ta-Gar Stream, the villages along Zee Stream in the south of Kalaymyo are also facing travel difficulties due to a strong flow of the mountain stream as a result of continuous rain.

“We can travel at the moment but we are still consulting with our community elders. We can’t cross the stream if the level of the mountain stream rises. The village on the other side can’t cross it as well. We face this situation every monsoon,” said the administrator of Saw Taw Village, which is located beside Zee Stream.